The Wholesale Klezmer BandLyrics and Translations

On September 16th, 2006 the Wholesale Klezmer Band performed a concert at the Linda Norris Auditorium of Northeast Public Radio, WAMC in Albany, NY. Below are the lyrics and translations to the songs we performed.

What kind of Jews do we have in this town,
Reb Yidl gib gelt, Reb Yidl gib gelt,
Will they build up their temple or watch it fall down,
Reb Yidl, Reb Yidl gib gelt,
Do you want a shul where to daven on Shabbos?
A non-sexist prayer book, a fresh clean pressed tallis?
A lulav and esrog to shake Succos day,
and a Succah to sit in, please Reb Yidl pay.

Should every child learn to be a good Jew?
Reb Yidl gib gelt, Reb Yidl gib gelt,
A Hebrew school teacher must pay the rent too,
Reb Yidl, Reb Yidl gib gelt,
For stories and sermons we all like to hear
The rabbi works hard for us all through the year,
Do you want a Khazn to chant Kol Nidrey?
It costs, my dear friend, so please Reb Yidl pay.

Reb Yidl gib gelt, Reb Yidl gib gelt,
In the words of the Toyre, the law we've been dealt,
It's good for your spirit and good for your healt,
Reb Yidl, Reb Yidl gib gelt.

For money a person will love you,
For money people will consult with you,
For money people will honor you,
For money people will tip their hats to you
For money you are dear to everyone,
For money everyone loves you,
For money people will run through fire,
And for money they'll go to the grave.

Everything for money, only for money,
That little bit of cash,
Oy, for money, only for money,
Can one aquire everything.
It's no difficult thing to understand,
If you have money, then you're rich.
Oy vey, the whole world,

Loves that little bit of money.
For money you turn from ugly to beautiful,
For money you turn from foolish to clever,
For money everyone thinks you're charming,
For money you have enough brains,
For money you have beautiful carriages,
For money you can live fine,
For money you can eat good cutlets,
And or money you drink the best wine.

(new verse)

For money you can get more money,
For money your reputation is spotless,
For money you can steal votes,
For money the prosecutor looks away,
For money you can defeat everyone,
For money Congress lies in your hands,
For money they'll believe your lies,
And for money you can become president.

Tsuzamen mitn Gelt

A traditional song in the form of a double alphabetical acrostic in Yiddish.
edited and translated by Yosl Kurland

Without faith, together with your money,
what good is it to work in the world?
Without understanding, together with your money,
what good is you're being in the world?
Without acts of lovingkindness, together with your money,
what good is it to go in the world?
Without wisdom, together with your money,
what do you need in the world?
Without welcoming, together with your money,
what can help you in the world?
Without generosity, together with your money,
what do you want in the world?
Without merit together with your money,
what do you seek in the world?
Without righteousness together with your money,
what delight do you have in the world?
Without purity together with your money,
what use are you to the world?
Without justice together with your money,
what good is to chase yourself through the world?
Without honor together with your money,
what good is it to grab the whole world?
Without learning together with your money,
what good is it to live in the world?
Without God's commandments, together with your money,
what good is what you do in the world?
Without trustworthiness, together with your money,
why do you make a fool of yourself in the world?
Without patience, together with your money,
what do you gasp for in the world?
Without humility, together with your money,
what will you answer in the true world?
Without fruits, together with your money,
what good is celebrating in the world?
Without charity, together with your money,
what goal do you have in the world?
Without holiness, together with your money,
what is there to be proud of in the world?
Without compassion, together with your money,
what do you aspire to in the world?
Without Shabbos, together with your money,
what good is bustling in the world?
Without Torah, together with your money,
what is your justification in the world?

Szol a Kakas Mar

Music: Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac Taub Lyrics: R Isaac Taub
This is a Yiddish translation of a Hungarian Jewish song.
In our recorded performance, we did only the first, second and last verses.